FAQ

What do I need to do prior my appointment for fitting the Fixed Brace? It is strongly recommended to have an appointment with the Oral Hygienist for a scale & polish and be given instructions about what materials are most recommended and what brushing techniques are most efficient to remove plaque and bacteria around the fixed braces.

What happens if I play musical instruments or sing? – Playing a wind instrument can affect the way you play. You should discuss this with your music teacher. – Occasionally braces can affect the ability to sing as well as usual.

What happens if I smoke? Smoking is not advisable at all. This may lead to permanent stains around the brackets.
How long will the appointment be for fitting the Fixed Brace? Approximately 40 min – 1 hour.

How long will be the treatment with Fixed Braces? – We cannot exactly predict this as it depends on several factors including clinical progress and patient’s co-operation. In case of poor oral hygiene, inappropriate diet, bad oral habits, breakages and missed appointments, treatment is certainly delayed and may cause undesirable results. – On average, treatment takes 12-24 months but could take longer.

Will I need to wear elastics? Not all patients are asked to wear elastics. In case you will be asked to wear them: – elastics are to be worn as instructed by the orthodontist; – you should place the elastics in the positions as instructed by your orthodontist

Can I experience difficulties by wearing the Fixed Brace? What should I do? – It will feel strange at first; do not worry, this is a usual and a common feeling. – You will feel some discomfort; do not worry, this should disappear in a few days. – You may have toothache; you can take paracetamol for 2-3 days, 1 pill every 8 hours i.e. 3 pills per day. Please avoid aspirin as it can cause inhibition of tooth movement. – You may feel the wire digging or metal brackets rubbing into your cheeks/gums; do not worry, this is because the wire may pop out at the back while the teeth are being straightened and the direct contact between the metal and soft tissues is irritating; in these situations you can use wax. The wax can be purchased at the pharmacy;

You may experience some soreness; this is self-limiting but if this persists please contact us. – You may rarely feel your teeth loose while they are being moved; this is normal but if you are worried please contact us. – Rarely, you may experience an allergic reaction to the metal; you MUST contact us.

What about my following appointments with the dentist? – Please keep your normal check-ups with your dentist and oral hygienist, during and after orthodontic treatment.

What about my following appointments with the orthodontist? – Your following appointments, for adjustments, are very important and they should be regular. – The following appointments will be every 4-10 weeks, depending on the type of appliance/treatment. – Every appointment will take approximately 10 minutes or longer in the event of breakages. – You should not fail or miss appointments; if you cannot attend on the day of your appointment please contact the practice 48 hours before to re-schedule. – Missing appointments can delay the treatment and can possibly lead to wrong tooth movements. – Failing more than 2 appointments can result in interruption or maybe cancellation of the treatment.

What happens when the Fixed Brace is removed? – The brace will be removed by the orthodontist but a session with your oral hygienist may be necessary to remove all remains of resin on the teeth, to remove stains, to avoid permanent markings, decay, decalcification on the teeth and gum inflammation. – After achieving the expected results it is necessary to hold the teeth in their new positions because teeth have a biological memory and they may partially or completely return to the original positions if nothing was holding them after the brace is removed. – You will then need to wear a removable retainer. – This is compulsory for a minimum of 18 months but more time is strongly recommended.

What should I do to avoid breakages? Follow these useful instructions: – Keep a very high standard of oral hygiene – Choose the right diet – Eliminate bad habits – Adopt a good and health posture – Attend all appointments – Avoid contact sports if possible

Can I play sports? – You can and you should. It is recommended to adopt a good general posture at all times and the practice of sports helps you to have a good posture, keeps you healthy and fit. However, you should avoid certain sports like Rugby and Boxing because they involve direct contact. Football is possible but with lots of care. – If necessary you can have a gum shield made to wear while you play sports (you should buy the standard ones, not made for an individual case because they hold the teeth and do not allow them to move at all).

What should I do if I have breakages? – If there is any sign of discomfort or pain, please contact the practice as soon as possible. If there is no discomfort at all you can wait for your following appointment. – You need to find out the reason(s) for the breakage in order to avoid them in future.

WHAT SHOULD I NOT EAT? Sugars – Food & Drinks with Sugar – Pastry, Cakes & Biscuits – Chocolate & Toffees Hidden Sugars They encourage germs to build up around the brace leading to permanent marks and tooth decay; They can dissolve the surface of the teeth.

Try to eat sensible portions of healthy food at set meal times. Use common sense about most foods. Try to choose soft food (not hard) and small pieces (not big).